RR-1401: Design Challenges of the NIST Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facilityhttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1401-design-challenges-nist-net-zero-energy-residential-test-facility/view
Trends in the United States and throughout the world have motivated builders to build low energy use and environmentally friendly homes. As materials and equipment have improved, energy reduction as a goal has increasingly been replaced with the goal of net-zero energy use. But the general approach to building energy efficient homes that has been recommended has always been the same – namely that the primary goal is to meet homeowners’ desired way-of-life while reducing energy use through available
technologies and methods within the homeowner’s means. Then, on-site generation of energy is simply an alternative, clean and renewable source for the energy required after energy consumption has been reduced as much as is feasible.
This approach to achieving net-zero energy homes is reflected in the ten general principles for the design of net-zero energy capable houses that are presented and discussed in the first part of this paper. In the second part of the paper, specific strategies and details are described that were used for the design of the Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF), a NIST laboratory in the form of a typical residence for a family of four that has been constructed on the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD. This facility provides a concrete example of a net-zero energy capable house for which the development of the design is consistent with the ten principles.No publisherzero-energynet zerodoc-Report2014-09-18T18:15:00ZBSCFileRR-1306: Vancouver Field Exposure Facility—Analysis and Comparison of HardiePlank Wallshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1306-vancouver-test-hut-hardieplank-walls/view
This report analyzes the performance of walls clad with HardiePlank fiber cement siding and compares them to traditional stucco assemblies. The data presented is a subset of experimental data from a multi-phase, multi-year research project at the Vancouver Field Exposure Test Facility led by Building Science Corporation (BSC) and Gauvin 2000 Construction Limited. The analysis includes results from normal operating conditions in a high stress exterior moisture environment (typical of the Pacific Northwest climate) and under intentional controlled wettings to the interior and exterior of the sheathing.No publisherdurabilitymoisture-Dryingmoisture-Vapor Permeanceenclosure-Wall assembly-sidingdoc-Report2013-05-17T03:55:00ZBSCFileRR-1305: Vancouver Field Exposure Facility—Phase IV Construction and Instrumentationhttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1305-vancouver-test-hut-phase-iv-instrumentation/view
This report describes the construction and instrumentation of Phase IV of a multi-phase, multi-year research project at the Vancouver Field Exposure Test Facility in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The main objective of Phase IV is to determine how various configurations of exterior low vapor permeance insulation affect the moisture durability risk of structural wood-based sheathing. To assist with this analysis, the walls will be subjected to elevated interior relative humidities, and intentional controlled surface wetting of the interior and/or exterior of the OSB sheathing.No publishermoisture-Physics of Moisture Controlguidance-Enclosure design principlesmoisture-Moisture storageanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Report2013-04-18T14:20:00ZBSCFileRR-1304: Vancouver Field Exposure Facility—Phase III Construction and Instrumentationhttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1304-vancouver-test-hut-phase-iii-instrumentation/view
This report describes the construction and instrumentation of Phase III of a multi-phase, multi-year research project at the Vancouver Field Exposure Test Facility in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Phase III focusses on the performance of various sheathings and claddings in a high stress moisture environment that is typical of the Pacific Northwest climate. The main research goal is to examine the performance of the various walls under the influence of intentional exterior wetting events in the drainage space. No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesdoc-Reportmoisture-Moisture storageanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingmoisture-Physics of Moisture Controldrainage2013-04-18T14:20:00ZBSCFileRR-1207: Vancouver Field Exposure Facility: Phase III Exterior Insulation Analysishttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1207-vancouver-field-exposure-facility/view
This report compares the moisture related performance of an exterior insulated wall to the performance of two other common construction methods, side-by-side. The data presented is a subset of experimental data from a multi-phase, multi-year research project at the Vancouver Field Exposure Test Facility led by Building Science Corporation (BSC) and Gauvin 2000 Construction Limited. The analysis includes results from normal operating conditions in a high stress exterior moisture environment (typical of the Pacific Northwest climate) and under intentional controlled wettings to the interior and exterior of the sheathing. There were no measured or observed moisture related durability concerns of the wood structural sheathing when 1.5” of exterior insulation was installed.No publisheranalysis-Modelling Toolsenclosure-Wall assembly-sheathinganalysis-Testingdoc-Report2012-11-20T19:20:00ZBSCFileRR-1104: Hygrothermal Analysis of Exterior Rockwool Insulationhttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1104-hygrothermal-analysis-exterior-rockwool-insulation/view
This report is an extension of a previous analysis study titled “High R Walls for the Pacific Northwest – A Hygrothermal Analysis of Various Exterior Wall Systems”, conducted by BSC for Walsh Construction, dated June 1, 2010 that examined the predicted thermal and hygrothermal performance of 17 different wall assemblies in Portland, Oregon.No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Report2012-01-05T17:55:00ZBSCFileRR-1110: Hygrothermal Analysis of California Atticshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1110-hygrothermal-analysis-california-attics/view
This report summarizes hygrothermal analysis of specific attics constructed in California. The analysis was done using historical experience, published work in journals and trade publications, current building code requirements and WUFI hygrothermal simulations to assess benefits and risks associated with insulating the roof decks in both vented and unvented configurations. The majority of the configurations evaluated are well understood and have been addressed in previous published work or in the model building codes. However, the focus of this report is on modifying conventional, ventilated attics, constructed with impermeable roof shingles (with fiberglass batt insulation on the ceiling plane) by adding fiberglass batt (or netted fiberglass or netted cellulose or spray applied fiberglass) insulation to the underside of the roof deck (i.e. on the slope) while leaving the attic air space ventilated to outdoors.No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesWUFIanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Reportclimate-Building design and climate2012-06-05T18:25:00ZBSCFileRR-1014: High-R Walls for the Pacific Northwest–A Hygrothermal Analysis of Various Exterior Wall Systemshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1014-high-r-walls-pacific-northwest-hygrothermal-analysis/view
This report considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control. Unlike previous studies, this one considers performance in a more realistic matter, including some two- and three-dimensional heat flow and analysis of the relative risk of moisture damage.No publisherenclosure-Wall assemblyguidance-Enclosure design principleshigh-R wallanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Report2011-12-22T17:55:00ZBSCFileRR-0907: Ventilated Wall Claddings: Review, Field Performance, and Hygrothermal Modelinghttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0907-ventilated-wall-claddings-review-performance-modeling/view
The balance between wetting, drying, and safe storage is critical to the long term performance of building enclosures. Where wetting cannot be controlled to acceptable levels, safe storage and drying become critical.No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesWUFIanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Reportclimate-Building design and climate2009-08-27T03:55:00ZBSCFileRR-0906: Field Monitoring and Hygrothermal Modeling of Interior Basement Insulation Systemshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0906-field-monitoring-hygrothermal-modeling-basement-insulation/view
The research reported in this paper is aimed at increasing the understanding of the hygrothermal performance of interior basement insulation systems by a combination of field monitoring of four assemblies and one-dimensional computer modeling.No publisherguidance-Below-grade enclosureenclosure-Foundation assemblyanalysis-Hygrothermal modellingdoc-Report2009-08-27T02:20:00ZBSCFileRR-0905: Modeled and Measured Drainage, Storage and Drying Behind Cladding Systemshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0905-modeled-measured-drainage-thermal-x/view
This paper documents the experimental methodology, details, and results and discuss how this information can be applied to modeling drained wall systems. Practical applications and research questions arising from the work are presented.No publishermoisture-Drainage planemoisture-Moisture storageclimate-Building design and climatedoc-Report2009-08-27T02:30:00ZBSCFileRR-0406: Face Sealed vs. Drainable EIFShttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0406-face-sealed-drainable-eifs/view
Exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) are inherently defective and unfit of use as an exterior cladding system where moisture sensitive components are used without a provision for drainage or in locations and assemblies without adequate drying. No publisherEIFSdoc-Report2009-06-05T20:15:00ZBSCFileRR-0503: Rainwater Management Performance of Newly Constructed Residential Building Enclosureshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0503-rainwater-management-orlando/view
A performance review of residential assemblies in the central Florida (Orlando) area during the three hurricanes in August and September 2004.No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesmoisture-Physics of Moisture Controldoc-Report2009-06-05T20:10:00ZBSCFileRR-0603: Impact Resistance of Advanced Framed Wall Systems with Insulating Sheathing as the Primary Sheathinghttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0603-impact-resistant-sheathing/view
Advanced framed wall systems that use a stud spacing of 24 inches on center and eliminate the plywood or OSB sheathing from the wall and replace it with insulating sheathing is a type of enclosure assembly that has been designed to be energy efficient combined with efficient material use.No publisheradvanced framingenclosure-Wall assemblyguidance-Windowsenclosure-Wall assembly-sheathinganalysis-Testingdoc-Report2009-05-29T21:40:00ZBSCFileRR-0912: Spray Polyurethane Foam: The Need for Vapor Retarders in Above-Grade Residential Wallshttp://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0912-spray-polyurethane-foam-need-for-vapor-retarders-in-above-grade-walls/view
This report is available from the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (http://www.cufca.ca/home_e.php). It is reproduced here for convenience. A common question encountered by SPF applicators, building designers, and code officials is the need for an additional vapor barrier or retarder. Experience by many contractors and some consultants suggest that special low permeance layers such as polyethylene are rarely needed in many types of walls. Theory indicates that closed cell foam is sufficiently vapor impermeable to control diffusion condensation and that low-density open-cell foam applications may require additional vapor diffusion control in some extreme environments. However, the need for, and type of additional vapor control layers remains unanswered to many.No publisherguidance-Enclosure design principlesmoisture-Vapor Permeancemoisture-Physics of Moisture Controldoc-Report2011-10-13T16:30:00ZBSCFile